Dispensing device



NOV. 19, 1935. w VAHLE 2,021,246

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed July 17, 1934 \mluunllmnllll 3 3rmentor (Ittomeg Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING DEVICE Application July 17, 1934, Serial .No. 735,638

4 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing devices, and more particularly to devices for opening and serving the contents of a sealed can of oil or the dispensing its contents, the adapter being so arranged as to fit the dispensing device to a standard size can larger than those for which the dispensing device is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing, in which,--

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of a dispensing device with its adapter, shown in its operative position after the opening in the side of the large can has been cut; I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the dispensing device With the adapter applied to the can;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the dispensing device;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the adapter; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the dispensing device applied to a small can.

Referring more particularly to the drawing by reference numerals, Ill designates generally a dispensing device which is adapted to be used for dispensing the contents of a sealed can I I (see Fig. 5), such for example as a sealed quart can of lubricating oil. Such cans ordinarily are provided with a label on the can side, and so that a used can cannot be improperly refilled the dispensing device is adapted to cut an opening in the can side and destroy a portion of the label.

The dispensing device as herein shown comprises a frame I2 which embodies a top portion is adapted to hook across the top of the can ll, and a side portion M which extends a suitable distance alongside of the can. The top portion I3 is preferably a sheet metal plate having hooks l5 which are adapted to hook over the can rim so as to bring the top portion of the frame down on the can top.

The side portion M is welded or otherwise rigidly connected to cars 2| bent upwardly from the body part of the top portion I3. Extending between the ears 2| and carried thereby is a pin 22 on which is rotatably mounted a strip 23 carrying the pouring spout 24. A spring 25 is pro- Vided at an end of the pin 22 arranged to normally hold the pouring Spout in an inoperative or raised position.

The pouring spout, which is preferably constructed as a tapering sheet metal tube, provides, at its inner end, a support for the cutting 5 knife or blade 21 which has an upper curved surface 28, the lower portions of the blade extending back away from the entering edge 3!] which is adapted to first penetrate the can at a point which is slightly below the rim. The pourm ing spout is readily moved merely by grasping it in the hand and pulling it down to the position shown in Fig. 1. The entering edge of the knife 30 thus penetrates the can, and since the upper part of the blade is curved substantially con- 15 centric with respect to the pin 22, the upper portion of the opening of the can is not rolled back. 7 When the blade has fully entered the can, it is so positioned that the inner edge of the blade top is immediately below the can top. The blade, 20 as shown, may be provided with slots 32 which are engaged by opposed projections on the pouring spout structure so that the knife can be readily removed and replaced. Surrounding the knife is a gasket 33 of rubber or other suitable 25 sealing material which is provided in a suitable recessed portion on the pouring spout so the gasket will be brought against the side of the can when the pouring spout has been moved to the position shown in Fig. 1, thus sealing the 30 contents of the can except through the passage in the pouring spout. The latter is preferably provided with a vent opening 34.

When the pouring spout is brought down to its operative position as shown in Fig. 1, the ends 35 of the opposed flanges 35 of the spout structure contact with the bottom strap N3 of the side frame which forms a stop preventing the pour ing spout from moving too far in the cutting operation.

Cooperating means are provided on the frame portion l4 and on the pouring spout serving to latch the pouring spout and frame together in a releasable manner when the pouring spout is brought into its operative position. This latch- 45 ing means preferably comprises a catch 35 pivotally supported on the lower portion of the pouring spout, and having a pair of laterally spaced hooks 31 which are adapted, under the action of gravity, to be automatically engaged with a pair 50 of projections 38 with which the strap I8 is provided. When the pouring spout is moved to its operative position, the top of the blade 21 will be engaged with the top of the opening in the can preventing any upward movement of the dispensing device with respect to the can until the pouring spout has been swung outwardly again, and this latter motion is prevented by the latch 35' so that the dispensing device is securely held to the can until such time as it is desired to remove the emptied can.

The dispensing device as above described may 7 .be of such construction as to be used with a onequart can of standard size as shown in full lines in Fig. 5, and to adapt the dispensing device for larger cans, such for example as a five-quart can 48, the adapter shown in Fig. 4 may be emplayed, this, adapter being so arranged that it may be very readily fixed to the top portion'i3 of the dispensing device and of such construction as to extend out past the end of the portion l3 and beyond the hooks I5 so as to reach across the 7 top of a large can of some definiteor standard.

diameter. The adapter, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 40, comprises a single piece of sheet metal providing the body portion 41 and rigidifying side flanges 42 which are curved at one end to provide the hooks 43 adapted to extend around and engage the rim' and then pressing the adapter plate down on the portion I3 so that the curved member 46 snaps over and releasably holds the two parts together.

As shown in Fig. 1 the plate 4| is bent slightly so that the hooks l5 which cooperate with the smaller size can will not project'so far as to pierce the top of the large can 48. The adapter in combination with the cutting device or dispenser, permits the latter to be used with cans of a comparatively large size, it being understood that an additional adapter or adapters can be employed for cooperation with cans of still other diameters.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a' preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus and that'changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

,of thecan cutter in a definite predeterminedpo- What is claimed is: Y 1. An adapter of the character describedrfor cooperation with a can cutter frame which'hooks across the top of a small can, comprising a plate member having a hooked end rigid therewith for 5 engaging the rim of a larger can and having means at its opposite end arranged to engage the cutter frame, said plate member being-of such length as to extend beyond the cutter frame a predetermined amount for engagement with a 10 standardsize can, and means for detachably'fix- 4 ing said plate memberin a predetermined position on said frame. V V

2. An adapter of the character described for cooperation with a can cutter which is provided 15 with a can engaging frame and a cutter and pouring spout pivotally mounted on the frame, comprising a plate member having a hooked end for engaging the rim of a can and having means at its opposite end arranged to hook over'the frame sition with respect thereto, said plate member being of such length as to extend beyond the frame of the can cutter for engagement with a standard size can, and means on said plate member for holding the same in position on the frame.

3. In combination, a can cutter having a frame portion adapted to hook across the top of a can, said frame portion having a hook at one end for engaging one side of the can and having means inovably carried at its other end for perforating a side of the can, and an adapter for said frame portion adapted to hook across the top of a larger can, said adapter and frame portion having cooperating means holding said parts in a prede- 35 termined relative position.

r 4. In combination, a can cutter frame having a top portion adapted to hook across the top of the can and having a sideportion adapted to extend along the side of the can but terminating 4d at a distance from the can bottom, a combined pouring spout and'cutter pivotally supported on said frame and adapted to cut an opening in .the side of the can and to dispense the contents of .the can, and an adapter detachably connected 5' to thetop portion of the frame and extending beyond the top portion a predetermined amount to fit the'can cutter '00- cans of larger diameter,

EDGAR w. 'VAHLE. 

